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Ref. :EIC 111/3
EIC 111/3/13
18 August 2025
(Updated on 20 August 2025)
Dear Sirs,
Further to Commercial Information Circulars (CICs) No. 148/2025, 200/2025, 220/2025, 311/2025, 463/2025 and 503/2025 dated 12 February 2025, 6 March 2025, 12 March 2025, 7 April 2025, 4 June 2025 and 16 June 2025 respectively on the US’ tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, the US Department of Commerce announced on 15 August 2025 to add additional steel and aluminium derivative products to be subject to Section 232 tariffs effective from 18 August 2025.
DETAILS
2.Pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the US imposed additional tariffs of 25% and 10% on respectively steel and aluminium products imported from all countries/economies (except certain economies which are fully exempted or subject to quotas) on 23 March 2018 under the “Section 232 investigation”. The US further included certain derivatives of steel and aluminium products for the additional tariffs on 8 February 2020. On 10 February 2025, the US President signed two proclamations to reinstate 25% tariff on steel imports and increase tariffs on aluminium imports to 25% from all countries/economies (unless otherwise specified), with effect from 12 March 2025. Subsequently, on 3 June 2025, the US President signed a proclamation to increase the tariff rate for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles, and aluminium articles and derivative aluminium articles, from 25% to 50% effective from 4 June 2025, unless otherwise specified. On 4 April 2025 and 16 June 2025, the US added additional aluminium and steel derivative products to be subject to Section 232 tariffs with effect from 4 April 2025 and 23 June 2025 respectively.
3.On 15 August 2025, the US Department of Commerce announced to add additional steel and aluminium derivative products to be subject to Section 232 tariffs effective from 18 August 2025. In accordance with adoption and procedures of the Section 232 steel and aluminium tariff inclusions process, 407 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) codes are added to the list of steel or aluminium derivative products. For such products, steel and aluminium tariffs based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 will apply to the steel and aluminium content. The non-steel and non-aluminium content will remain subject to the reciprocal and other applicable tariffs. The duties set out in Annex I for these additional steel and aluminium derivatives are effective with respect to certain products that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption from 18 August 2025. No drawback shall be available with respect to the duties imposed.
4.For further details, please refer to the US Department of Commerce’s notice, the Federal Register (FR) notice and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s messages:
US Department of Commerce’s notice
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-15819.pdf
FR notice
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-08-19/pdf/2025-15819.pdf
US CBP’s Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Guidance: Section 232 Additional Steel Derivative Tariff Inclusion Products
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3ee1cba?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
US CBP’s Cargo Systems Messaging Service Message - Guidance: Section 232 Additional Aluminum Derivative Tariff Inclusion Products
https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-3ee1ce7?wgt_ref=USDHSCBP_WIDGET_2
5.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact us at telephone number 2398 5405.
Yours faithfully,
(Miss Kwany KOU)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.